A tragic incident occurred in Eagle Butte, South Dakota when a nine-year-old boy was fatally attacked by a group of wild dogs. The boy, whose identity remains undisclosed, was discovered near his bicycle, severely injured, which led to an inquiry by local law enforcement.
The event took place on Saturday, May 18, 2024, when the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Police Department officers responded to a distress call about a boy found lifeless on the ground in Eagle Butte. The boy was unresponsive with multiple injuries that were consistent with an animal attack, according to Police Chief Charles L. Red Crow. “We discovered that there were four dogs that attacked and killed him,” Red Crow stated in an interview with Usatoday.com.
The boy was later identified by his family, but his name has not been released to the public. An autopsy conducted on Tuesday confirmed that the boy’s death resulted from an animal attack. “It is with heavy hearts that we confirm this Wakanyeja (a Lakota term meaning “sacred beings” used for children) lost his life in an attack by several feral dogs. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends affected by this tragedy,” Chairman Ryman LeBeau stated in a release.
The boy’s death sparked a wave of sorrow and sympathy on social media platforms. One Facebook user lamented, “Prayers for this little boy who journeyed to the spirit world way too soon, to his family and friends left to mourn his passing, and to the entire Cheyenne River Nation.” Another concerned person noted, “This could have been prevented. My thoughts are with the young boy and his family.”
Following the tragic incident, animal control officers were sent out to scour the area, apprehending both tagged and untagged dogs found roaming freely. Tagged dogs are to be kept at the Wakpa Waste Animal Shelter for 72 hours before any further action, while untagged dogs are to be dealt with promptly.
The problem of feral dogs on the Cheyenne River Reservation has been escalating for some time. It is estimated that there are potentially 1,000 stray dogs in the area. The tribe routinely organizes events like the “Gathering of the Dogs” to manage the issue by capturing and controlling the feral dog population.
The boy’s death has underscored these concerns, underlining the necessity for more stringent enforcement of animal control regulations. The tribe’s animal control code stipulates that dogs must be leashed, tethered, or confined in fenced areas and establishes specific rules for breeds deemed dangerous.
The community is grappling with the loss and calling for more effective measures to prevent such incidents in the future. “We mourn with all relatives impacted,” LeBeau said. The pressure is now on the local authorities to guarantee the safety of residents and prevent further feral dog-related incidents.
